Sister to Sister

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Smoking is a woman’s single biggest risk factor for a heart attack. It also puts you at risk for lung cancer, increases your chance of a stroke, and leads to coughing and shortness of breath. Furthermore, smoking affects the health of those around you – including your family.

The good news is that it’s never too late to quit. If you stop smoking, you’ll improve your health and reduce your long-term risks – and you’ll see immediate benefits, some within just a few hours!

How does smoking affect your heart?

The more cigarettes you smoke, the higher your risk of a heart attack. When you smoke:

• Your heart beats faster.
• Your blood pressure rises.
• Your blood flow is reduced.
• More carbon monoxide is carried in your blood.
• Your vital organs and tissues receive less oxygen.

Smoking can also aggravate other heart disease risk factors by:

• raising your blood pressure
• reducing your HDL (good) cholesterol
• lessening your ability to exercise
• increasing blood clotting

Smoking can have additional negative effects on women who use oral contraceptives, giving them a higher risk of heart disease and strokes.

What about secondhand smoke?

Smoking isn’t just bad for you; it’s bad for the people around you. There is a clear link between secondhand smoke and heart disease. Smoking around your children can have especially severe health consequences. Children of smokers tend to have more lung illnesses, including pneumonia and bronchitis; may develop asthma; and are more likely to develop chest illnesses.

Could it be too late to stop smoking?

It’s never too late to stop smoking! Your health risks start decreasing quickly after you stop smoking, and they continue dropping over time. You’ll see big benefits after you quit, no matter how long you’ve been smoking – even if you’ve already developed some smoking-related problems.

Need more reasons to be a quitter?

Look at the health improvements you can expect within the first year:

• 20 minutes after quitting: Your blood pressure and heart rate will drop.
• 12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood will return to normal.
• 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation and lung function will improve.
• 1 to 9 months after quitting: You’ll cough less and you’ll have less shortness of breath. Your lungs will be more able to handle mucus, clean themselves, and reduce your risk of infection.
• 1 year after quitting: Your excess risk of heart disease will be half that of a smoker.

And the benefits don’t stop there! Within several years your stroke and heart disease risk can equal that of a non-smoker’s and your risk of cancer will be dramatically reduced as well.

You’ll also see immediate benefits in your everyday life:

• Your breath will smell better.
• Your teeth will get whiter.
• Your clothes and hair will stop smelling of cigarette smoke.
• Your yellow fingers and fingernails will disappear.
• Your senses of smell and taste will improve.
• Everyday activities – like climbing stairs or doing light housework – won’t leave you out of breath.

There’s one more important benefit to stopping smoking: You’ll save money! Smoking is expensive. When you stop buying cigarettes, the payoff is big.

What else can you do to protect your heart?

• Get Screened. Smoking is a risk factor for heart disease. A quick and easy screening can reveal other risk factors you may have.
• Get Heart Healthy. It’s extra important for smokers to stay on top of their heart health. The steps to a healthier heart and a healthier you start here.